Police put brakes
on car cruisers
HUNDREDS of car cruisers who gathered at the Woolston Grange trading estate, Warrington were stopped in their tracks by police.
More than 200 vehicles arrived for the meet, but unknown to the cruisers Community Action Team (CAT) officers had launched an operation to deal with a growing number who are gathering in Woolston.
The operation followed observations carried out last week in response to complaints from members of the public about a gathering of up to 300 cruisers.
Inspector Stuart Woodcock, who led the operation, said: “While many people gather to show off their vehicles – some of which have had many thousands of pounds spent on them – the event does draw a minority who choose to ignore road traffic legislation and drive in a dangerous manner which not only puts their lives at risk but also the lives of other road users.
“Driving at high speeds on roads with pedestrians watching close by is extremely dangerous and significantly increases the chances of a serious or fatal road traffic collision occurring.
“Modifications can also affect the safety of some vehicles for the occupants, as well as any person who may be unfortunate enough to come into contact with the vehicle. One of the division’s priorities is to reduce serious and fatal road traffic collisions and this sort of behaviour on our roads must end.
“The organisers of such events are without doubt being irresponsible and need to carefully consider the consequences of their actions.”
By the end of the operation all 200 vehicles had been checked thoroughly by the police together with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) who placed prohibitions on 23 of them. These prohibitions prevent the vehicles from being used on the road.
Inspector Woodcock added: “Approximately 12 per cent of those vehicles checked were removed from the road for various offences, making the roads a safer place and working towards our priority to reduce serious and fatal collisions. Numerous document checks were conducted and a number of drivers were reported for vehicle offences including defective tyres and dangerous driving.”
Police took action in April to crack down on hundreds of cruisers who had gathered at the Centre Park business site. Thirty officers prevented a large group of 18-25 year olds from holding their pre-arranged meet close to the town centre. Around 150 vehicles and about 300 people had descended on the business park’s car parks after internet sites advertised that a car cruise would be held there.
Fast-track action needed
for hooligans – candidate
by David Skentelbery
ANTI-Social Behaviour Orders should be fast-tracked to help deal with the growing problems of hooliganism and vandalism, according to Warrington South Conservative Prospective Parliament candidate Fiona Bruce.
She called for a streamlining of the procedures for obtaining the orders (ASBOs) when she met Conservative Party chairman Liam Fox to discuss anti-social behaviour in the North West.
Coun Bruce, who represents Penketh on Warrington Borough Council, said there were continuing difficulties experienced by people living in the area.
She said: “Dispersal Orders need to be obtained, issued and enforced quickly. I am determined to work with the local community to stop a small group of young people making life a misery for residents living in two particular parts of Penketh.
“At present there are two pockets of Penketh where youths – often from outside the area – are gathering and causing serious disturbance to local residents in the immediate vicinity.
” I have called upon the council and police to apply urgently for Anti Social Behaviour Orders to cover these points in the ward.
“Incidents of this nature demonstrate how much we need more police on the streets. I fully support the request made last week to government ministers by senior police officers from across the country for more police for our local communities”.
Trust appoints new
medical director
by staff reporter
CONSULTANT vascular and general surgeon Philip Wake has taken up the post of executive medical director with North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust – the body which runs Warrington and Halton General hospitals.
He takes over from Dr Ted Rose, who has served as medical director for two years.
Mr Wake, 60, originally a Londoner, trained in the Mersey region and has been a consultant surgeon in North Cheshire since 1981.
He said: “I have worked at Halton and Warrington hospitals for many years so have always had an affection for both hospitals.
“One of my prime responsibilities will be assisting the necessary and inevitable changes required following the merger of Warrington and Halton hospitals and hopefully reducing some of the tensions which have arisen from it.
“While I will continue to work on the Warrington site, I have ensured that I have ample time to visit Halton General and talk to staff to get a feel for their views.
“There is an inevitable degree of concern among staff, especially on the Halton site, about changes and an important part of my role will be to get clinical staff thinking about the North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust as an integrated whole and not as separate organisations.”
Mr Wake will have lead responsibility for advancing the move of elective surgery from Warrington Hospital to Halton General to make the best use of what he describes as a “very good facility which has all the advantages of a friendly, local hospital”.
This will in turn free up beds at Warrington Hospital for more effective management of emergency surgery and further reduce waits in the accident and emergency department.
He said: “I am grateful to my consultant colleagues who will be crucial in allowing me a degree of freedom to pursue my role as medical director. They recognise that our prime objective is to provide efficient services to the population we serve.”
Chief Executive Ian Dalton said: “On behalf of the Trust Board I am delighted to welcome Phil to the executive team. Phil has an outstanding clinical track record and I greatly look forward to working with him in his new role.”
“Dr Rose has been an exceptional medical director for the last two years and I would like to convey my thanks to him for all his hard work.”
School’s new opportunities
for learning and play
by staff reporter
A NEW library, ICT research base and playground have been unveiled at a Warrington school.
MP Helen Southworth, with the help of some of the pupils, officially opened the new facilities at Appleton Thorn Primary School in front of an audience of teachers, pupils, parents and dignitaries.
Headteacher Jackie Stillings said: “It has gone really well even though the weather was not very good and everyone has enjoyed it.”
Despite heavy rain many children and adults could not resist the climbing wall that appeared in the car park and tried their best to get to the top to help raise money for an interactive whiteboard.
The school has undergone a massive transformation with improvements including two new classrooms, a library and ICT research base, a new staff room, toilets, an external store room and an extended playground.
Other improvements include the conversion of an existing staff room into a “withdrawal room” for teaching small groups of children including gifted and talented pupils. The existing library has been refurbished to provide a reprographics room and a mobile classroom has been demolished to make way for an infants’ playground.
Julie Priestman, whose five-year-old son Daniel, started at the school in September, said: “It is excellent. Daniel started in September and has settled in very well.
“It is great that he can take full advantage of all these things for his school life and there are some very good facilities here.”
Funding for the project came from the local education autho
rity and ?84,144 from the school’s Devolved Formula Capital (DFC) up to and including 2006.
Motorist attacked boy –
then ran over his foot
by David Skentelbery
POLICE are looking for a man who attacked a 15-year-old boy at Warrington – and ran over his foot with his car.
The incident was in the centre of Stockton Heath late at night – and apparently took place after the boy accidentally tripped and fell against a green, R-registered Alfa Romeo car.
A man struck the youngster then got into the car and drove it over the boy’s foot. Then he got out again and struck him twice over the head with an implement, causing an injury.
The offender is described as about 5ft ll inches tall, of stocky build and with short hair. He was accompanied by a woman with long, straight blonde hair and was dressed all in white.
Anyone who witnessed the attack or who can help in any other way is asked to call PC Phoebe Dickinson on 01244 350000.
Pyramid features on
anniversary website
by John Hendon
WARRINGTON’S newest arts venue has been selected to feature on the Arts Council England’s website as part of the National Lottery’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations.
Pyramid, in Palmyra Square, opened its doors in late 2002 thanks to a ?2.4m lottery funding, which was the single largest award to any local authority in the country at that time.
Two years on as the National Lottery approaches its official 10th birthday next month, Arts Council England invited case studies from projects around the country, which have benefited from Lottery funding.
Pyramid chiefs told organisers how funding had radically transformed two disused buildings in the town centre, a council sports hall and a courthouse , into a cutting edge centre for the arts.
The judges were impressed enough to feature the venue as a case study on the website.
To view a full list of the venues selected to appear on the website, log on to www.artscouncil.org.uk and click on the National Lottery link.
MP in bid to
make food safer
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON South MP Helen Southworth is to introduce a bill in the House of Commons to make food safer.
The bill calls for food content and nutritional labelling to be mandatory for prepared foods.
Organisations like Diabetes UK, the National Heart Forum and the Consumers Association all want nutritional labelling to be mandatory on prepared foods.
People with diabetes need to be able to control their blood sugar levels to stay health so accurate information about the food they eat is important.
Up to a third of deaths from coronary heart disease are believed to be attributable to dietary factory.
Mrs Southworth said: “Sixty four per cent of people questioned for the Food Standards Agency 2003 Consumer Attitudes Survey wanted nutritional information and details of ingredients to be available for the food they bought.
“We want to make choices about what we eat but we can’t do that if those who make it and sell it don’t tell us what is in it. Some companies like the Co-op are leading the way in giving clear information, but others are hiding what’s in our food from us. Some companies even make misleading health claims for their products such as breakfast cereals that have unhealthy amounts of sugar in them.
“And it might sound good if a product is sold as “80 per cent fat free” – but this really means it is 20 per cent fat.
“My bill is being supported by a number of health and consumer groups. I’m pleased to be able to draw attention to this important subject. Even if my bill doesn’t become law now I will be pressing the government to find time in the next year to tackle this important issue.”
Family flee
kitchen fire
by staff reporter
A FAMILY escaped unhurt when fire broke out in the kitchen at their home in Cotswold Avenue, Orford, Warrington.
The blaze wrecked the kitchen and caused extensive smoke damage in other parts of the house and the occupants will require re-housing.
A Fire Service spokesman said the fire had been caused by an overheated chip pan left on the cooker.
Fire crews wore breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.
